Originally, the Shengbai Art Space was a boiler room located near Beijing’s East Fourth Ring Road. Over time, it changed ownership several times and was most recently used as an automobile repair shop before its renovation.
The site is nestled among residential communities built in the 1980s and 1990s. It stretches approximately 160 meters in length but is only 20 meters wide, making it a narrow, overlooked space in the midst of urban expansion. The challenge was to introduce new public activities into this urban gap and attract visitors beyond the local community through a targeted, acupuncture-like renewal strategy that could rejuvenate the entire area.
To achieve this, we demolished part of the auto repair shop and rebuilt it to restore the original spatial layout of the boiler room. The open area on the west side was transformed into an auditorium designed for exhibitions, business events, and small weddings. Smaller-span areas were converted into supporting spaces such as a café and side halls. Additionally, landscaping on both sides of the outdoor venue enhanced its public accessibility, extending the indoor activities into the outdoor space.
Most interior walls were left blank to allow for flexible layouts accommodating various events. To facilitate adaptable spatial divisions and smooth circulation, numerous revolving and sliding doors were installed, enabling different levels of segmentation as needed.
Since the renovation, Shengbai Art Space has hosted numerous events and gained considerable attention. Over the past 20 years, this building has seen multiple functional transformations. We hope our intervention will help it secure a meaningful role in this rapidly urbanizing environment and contribute positively to the community.
Project Information
Project Name: Sheng Bai Art Space
Location: Beijing
Completion Year: 2022
Main Function: Auditorium
Building Area: 1,300 square meters
Architect: Daily Construction
Architectural Photography: Daily Construction
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